The Cowen years - More needed in these days of instability

TWO years ago, when Brian Cowen became Taoiseach, he enjoyed the goodwill if not the support of more people than he might ever have imagined. More than he might ever enjoy again.

This was little enough to do with him or his party but a gnawing feeling in the pit of the stomach told us that we were facing an exceptional time and that we needed exceptional leadership. We knew, or tell ourselves today that we knew, that things would indeed get “boomier” but not in the way Bertie Ahern imagined.

Ireland was ready to embrace Mr Cowen’s premiership and personality with optimistic resignation. We were assured that he represented change and promise. We were promised a new reforming force and, most of all, a break with a stale and compromised culture.